As a Muslim, I feel very upset, depressed and furious when I learn from various media reports about violence  committed by militant Muslim groups in the name of Islam. Suicide bombings carried out by these groups in various countries especially in Iraq, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, killing many innocent civilians including Muslims, have now become a regular news item.

While these jihadist and other radical Islamist groups such as al-Qaeda claim to be undertaking ‘jihad’, i.e., fighting for the cause of liberating Muslims from oppression and aggression in places like Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan and establishing a world following Islamic principles and practices, I, like majority of the more than one billion Muslims in the world, definitely do not agree to a violent approach in reaching a noble goal and is a clear example of a “means not justifying the end”.

The Qur’an clearly condemns the taking of innocent lives when it states: "Whosoever kills a human being for other than manslaughter or corruption in the earth, it shall be as if he had killed all mankind, and whosoever saves the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind..." (Qur’an, 5:32). 

The Qur’an also states: "There is no compulsion in religion.”(Qur’an, 2:256). Islam therefore prohibits forcing people to embrace the faith through violent means because as the Qur’an further states in the same verse: “The right path has indeed become distinct from the wrong. So whoever rejects false worship and believes in Allah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allah is All Hearing, All Knowing.” (Qur’an, 2:256).

Allah (subhanahu wa ta ‘ala [swt] – the Most Glorious and Most High) instead commands the Muslims to convey Islam in a good and positive manner in order to invite people to the faith when He said:

“Invite (all) to the Way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious: for thy Lord knoweth best, who have strayed from His Path, and who receive guidance.” (Qur’an, 16:125).

The fundamental teachings of Islam are aimed at creating the brotherhood of mankind in a harmonious and peaceful society under one God. It is therefore unthinkable that the religion of Islam would ever teach and support violence and terrorism. Islam not only condemns terrorism in all its forms but it also prohibits them completely. However these noble teachings are being muted by the actions of a few who perform terrorist acts in the name of Allah (swt) and Islam. The violent activities of these groups have not been effective in achieving their cause but have generated a wave of hatred against Islam and Muslims in general.

In an article I contributed to the Universal Message in 2004 entitled ‘the Truth About Islam’ I discussed some points on terrorism and jihad which I wish to reiterate  here to emphasize the essence of this article. The term “jihad”, based on the teachings of the Qur’an and the sayings of Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam [saw] – peace and blessings be upon him) is best interpreted by Islamic scholars as “a sincere and noticeable effort for good and an all true and unselfish striving for spiritual good”. It therefore implies a struggle against the self to strive for spiritual good and involves noticeable effort for righteousness.

Thus, jihad is solely individual and self-centered, aimed at doing good for salvation and forgiveness of God. This is pointed out in the Qur’an as follows: "The day will come when every soul will serve as its own advocate, and every soul will be paid fully for whatever it had done, without the least injustice." (Qur’an, 16:111).

Jihad may also reflect the war aspects in Islam but the principle is that fighting is allowed to uphold right, repel injustice and establish justice, peace, security and clemency. The fighting of a war in the name of justice or Islam to deter an aggressor for self-defense and establish justice and freedom to practice religion would also be considered a jihad. "You shall strive for the cause of God as you should strive for His cause.” (Qur’an, 22:78).

In certain circumstances when Islam tolerates, permits and sometimes even accepts the practice of war, it strongly emphasizes the ideas of justice, freedom and opposition to oppression and fighting for self-defense.

  "Permission  (to fight) is granted to those who are being persecuted, since injustice has befallen them, and Allah is certainly able to support them. They were evicted from their homes unjustly, for no reason other than saying, "Our Lord is Allah." If it were not for God’s supporting of some people against others, monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques - where the name of Allah is commemorated frequently - would have been destroyed. Absolutely, Allah supports those who support Him. Allah is Powerful, Almighty."(Qur’an, 22:39-40). 

But if there is a possibility to avoid war, then this alternative, as long as it is reasonable, must be taken. "You shall prepare for them all the power you can muster, and all the equipment you can mobilize, that you may frighten the enemies of Allah, your enemies, as well as others who are not known to you; God knows them. Whatever you spend in the cause of Allah will be repaid to you generously, without the least injustice. If they resort to peace, so shall you, and put your trust in Allah. He is the Hearer, the Omniscient." (Qur’an, 8:60-61).

Islam also ordains that enemies must be treated with respect and just manner. Brutal and barbaric killing of any human being is condemned. During war, fighting must not include civilians, provided they do not attack or provoke or share directly in the war. If victory is achieved in any war for justice, then there is to be no oppression, enslavement or injustice to the enemy or people, nor must there be control over source of wealth of the nation or people or colonial regimes. Freedom and justice must prevail.

  Islam also enjoins its followers to be charitable to those who do not fight them or expel them from their homes. "Allah forbids you not, with regard to those who fight you not for your faith, nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: For Allah loveth those who are just.” "Allah only forbids you, with regards to those who fight you for your faith, and drive you out of your homes, and support others in driving you out, from turning to them (for friendship and protection).  It is such as turn to them in these circumstances that do wrong." (Qur'an, 60:8-9). "And let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to piety: and fear Allah.  For Allah is well-acquainted with all that you do." (Qur’an, 5:8).

                So while the verses of the Qur’an quoted above are very clear in terms of the true meaning and proper rules of jihad, it is very unfortunate that many radical Islamic groups interpret the teachings erroneously, brainwashing young Muslims to the point of embedding their hearts and minds with their radical and violent ideology.

How can we effectively win back these innocent, young Muslims into adhering to the real concept of jihad and the principles of Islam in enjoining justice, peace and tolerance? Many of us perhaps wonder.

This question seems to find an answer in “The Jihadi Code”, a documentary on the breakthrough against al Qaeda in Libya which was aired on 15 November 2009 in CNN’s Untold Stories. The new “code”, a 417-page religious document entitled “Corrective Studies” was written by the leaders of one of the world’s most effective jihadist organizations, the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG) which waged an armed struggle against Col. Moammar Gadhafi’s regime for two decades to topple and replace it with an Islamic state.

According to CNN, the story on the “Jihadi Code” is the result of a two-year CNN investigative report into peace talks held between LIFG and the Libyan Government which recently culminated in the LIFG, a militant jihadist group once close to Osama bin Laden, repudiating al Qaeda (details of this story are available at CNN.com).

The LIFG leaders have been locked up for decades in Abu Salim’s jail where the code was written. CNN was granted an exclusive interview with the LIFG leaders who were promised freedom by the Libyan government in exchange for renouncing their long-time war against the regime.

These LIFG prisoners were hardened jihadists who fought hard battles in Afghanistan and Bosnia and were highly respected in jihadi circles including al Qaeda and the Talibans. Bin Laden tried to have LIFG’s operations merged with al Qaeda for decades, but LIFG refused due to differences in approach.

In the interview, one of them was asked if they were doing this to be free from jail, the man denied it and said that their past actions were wrong, and that they were giving up their fight because it is illegal under Islamic law. Other fighting members also said that getting out of jail was not a factor because they have been jailed for so long that more time behind bars did not really matter. They made the reversal after deep introspection and careful religious consideration. The armed struggle LIFG waged against the Libyan government for two decades is now viewed by the organization as illegal under Islamic law.

In an article in CNN.com on this story, I quote: “the code's most direct challenge to al Qaeda is this: ‘Jihad has ethics and morals because it is for God. That means it is forbidden to kill women, children, elderly people, priests, messengers, traders and the like. Betrayal is prohibited and it is vital to keep promises and treat prisoners of war in a good way. Standing by those ethics is what distinguishes Muslims' jihad from the wars of other nations.’  While the code states that jihad is permissible if Muslim lands are invaded -- citing the cases of Afghanistan, Iraq and Palestine -- the guidelines it sets down for when and how jihad should be fought, and its insistence that civilians should not be targeted are a clear rebuke to the goals and tactics of Bin Laden's terrorist network.”

The article further reports that “The code has been circulated among some of the most respected religious scholars in the Middle East and has been given widespread backing. It is being debated by politicians in the U.S. and studied by western intelligence agencies. In essence the new code for jihad is exactly what the West has been waiting for: a credible challenge from within jihadist ranks to al Qaeda's ideology.”

In their new code for jihadists, LIFG’s leaders made it clear that battling extremism will be challenging. "We have written this book knowing full well that the old motives and ideas which made us take up the armed struggle in the past are still to be found in the hearts and minds of many young Muslims today," they wrote.

"We know there are many issues that might lead them to take the same path; that's why we are offering our advice and guidance to these brothers."

The “Jihadi Code” is a very positive and profound development which will repudiate the misguided concept and wrong approach of the radical and militant jihadists in their jihad against aggressors and invaders of Muslim lands and its people. Given LIFG’s credibility, let us hope that it can be an instrument in getting back jihadists to the right approach in waging jihad in compliance with the teachings of the Qur’an and the hadiths of Prophet Muhammad (saw).